THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION OF CHRIST WILL PROVE THE DISCIPLES' COMFORT IN TIME OF PERSECUTION 1-6. The Persecution of the Apostles predicted. This section repeats many of the ideas of the previous chapter (see John 15:18). The reason of the anticipated persecution is 'because they (the persecut... [ Continue Reading ]
OFFENDED] i.e. that your faith should not be shaken (RV 'made to stumble').... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUES] i.e. excommunicate you: see John 9:22; John 9:34; John 12:42 and cp. Matthew 10:17. DOETH GOD SERVICE] more precisely, 'offereth sacrifice to God.' There was a Jewish saying, 'Every one that sheddeth the blood of the wicked, is as he that offereth a sacrifice.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TIME] RV 'their hour,' i.e. the hour of your enemies' apparent triumph. YE MAY REMEMBER] The Apostles' persecutions would be easier to bear, if it was clearly understood that they were foreordained by God and foretold by Christ: cp. John 13:19; John 14:29. I SAID NOT UNTO YOU AT (RV 'FROM') THE... [ Continue Reading ]
NONE OF YOU ASKETH ME] The Apostles were so much disturbed by the thought of Christ's imminent death, and their own approaching persecutions, that they had no heart to enquire about the glorious abode to which Christ was going, and to which they also would one day go.... [ Continue Reading ]
The work of the Comforter in the world and in the Church. 7. It was better for them that Christ's personal presence should be withdrawn, in order that His spiritual presence might be nearer to them than ever, or, rather, might for the first time truly begin. This would be effected by the coming of t... [ Continue Reading ]
REPROVE] RV 'convict.' The Gk. word, which also occurs John 3:20; John 8:9; (AV) John 8:46, means to prove a person in the wrong, hence to convict. The Holy Ghost will 'convince' or 'convict' the world, by placing before it the claims of Christ with a force and clearness that cannot be evaded. The r... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDGMENT] i.e. condemnation. THE PRINCE] i.e. Satan: see John 12:31; John 14:30. The Resurrection is the proof that Satan and the world (i.e. the opponents of Jesus) are condemned by God. 12, 13. This promise of divine guidance to the Apostles as teachers, justifies us in accepting their writings a... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO ALL TRUTH] RV 'all the truth,' i.e. all that is necessary to the salvation of souls and to the well-being of the Church. It should be noticed that the Church's apprehension of truth is regarded as progressive. THINGS TO COME] Here the prediction of events is regarded as one of the functions of... [ Continue Reading ]
The Spirit would glorify Christ, by progressively revealing the full sense of what Christ had taught them.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Apostles' Sorrow turned into Joy. 16. Ye shall see me] (1) with bodily sight during the forty days; (2) with spiritual vision after Pentecost (see on John 14:18).... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE WORLD SHALL REJOICE] 'My enemies will rejoice at My death, and the apparent failure of My designs.'... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN] The reference is both to the Resurrection and to the coming of the Spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY] i.e. the time beginning at Pentecost. YE SHALL ASK ME NOTHING] RM is preferable, 'Ye shall ask me no question,' i.e. about the true meaning of My words, for all will then be clear to you. HE WILL GIVE _it_ YOU] RV adds 'in my name,' i.e. for My sake.... [ Continue Reading ]
HITHERTO.. NAME] because prayer in the name of Christ presupposes His glorification.... [ Continue Reading ]
Last Words. Temporary defeat in the present will be followed by final victory. 25. In proverbs] RM 'in parables.' Very many of our Lord's discourses were dark and enigmatical to the Apostles, until the coming of the Holy Spirit furnished the key to their meaning. Mere words can only hint at, not ful... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAY NOT.. THAT I WILL PRAY THE FATHER FOR YOU] 'After Pentecost you will have direct access to the Father. You will ask directly for what you need in My name, and no longer will it be needful for you, as it is at present, first to come to Me, and to ask Me to bring your needs before the Father.' T... [ Continue Reading ]
NEEDEST NOT THAT ANY MAN SHOULD ASK THEE] Thou didst answer our questions before we asked them, for Thou didst know what questions were in our minds. 30, 31. Jesus shows that He can read the thoughts of their hearts in a deeper sense than they imagined. He knows precisely what their faith is worth,... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HIS OWN] i.e. to his own house; see John 1:11; John 16:32; John 19:27; Luke 18:28; Acts 21:6. YET I AM NOT ALONE] Only for a few awful moments upon the cross (Matthew 27:46) was our Lord's conscious communion with His Father interrupted.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD] See the sublime vision in the Revelation, where Christ goes forth 'conquering and to conquer' (Revelation 6:2). The victory of Christ over the world, and the victory of believers through that victory, are favourite themes of the fourth evangelist (see 1 John 2:13; 1 John 4... [ Continue Reading ]